Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.

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I offer a wide range of guided walks around the city and university. These can be a general introduction to the history and architecture or looking at specific themes and subjects.

I am a Catholic and a historian based in Oxford, where I am a member of Oriel College. My research, for a long delayed D.Phil., is a study of Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln in the second decade of the fifteenth century. I also work as a freelance tutor in History and as an independent tour guide.
I was received into the Church in 2005 and am a Brother of the External Oratory of St Philip Neri at the Oxford Oratory.

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Friday, 14 February 2014

Saints Cyril and Methodius

Today is the feast in the Novus Ordo of SS Cyril and Methodius, who are now, with St Benedict, co-patrons of Europe. There is an online account of the Apostles of the Slavs here.

SS Cyril and Methodius arrive in Rome bearing the relics of St Clement*

Fresco in San Clemente Rome of the period 1080-1100

Image:Wikipedia

As the online life recounts in 867 the two brothers were invited from Moravia by Pope Nicholas I, the Great, to Rome. They travelled there with supporters and bearing the relics of St Clement. By the time they arrived in 868 Pope Nicholas had died and it was Pope Adrian II who welcomed them, and who decreed quasi-papal honours for Cyril's funeral in 869.

I have chosen this picture because although it is later in date - late eleventh century - it does give an idea of the ceremonial surrounding the Papacy in that period, and very probably that of SS Cyril and Methodius. The details of the vestments are also interesting. The exuberant thurifers are rather good - and haven't we all seen such behaviour in our time?

* The picture source describes it thus, but it occurs to me that it might equally depict St Cyril's funeral in 869 when he was accorded Papal honours - see today's Divine Office lection in the Office of Readings - and that a nimbused St Methodius is standing by the Pope as his brother's corpse - rather than bones of the first century St Clement - is carried to its funeral or burial. I have not got time at the momet to check further, but it might make for abetter reading of the iconography.